Smyrna times., 1887-01-12
State Free Schools.

The eleventh annual report of the
state superintendent of free schools was
presented to the House on Tuesday of
last week. The Superintendent Tbos
n. Williams, opens with the followinr
statistics: Number of school districts
IN the State, 422; schools. 562 an in.
crease of Is since last report; number
OF months taught in 1886, 8.42, against
1851 In 1884; white children betwaon
Vhe ages of 6 and 2l years, 81, ,46S: col
oreu children, outside of Wilmington
o'|5O; white children enrolled. 90 491
colored children, 1862: AVERAGE daiI,
attendance, white children, 10 285
colored children, 1,OO8; average white
children to each district, So: averaga
enrolled, 68; average daily attendance
81 number of teachers, including Will
mlngton, 635; average monthly salary
S32.4O; average age of male teachers
zo'I6; female teachers, 25.6; NUMBER of
examinations held, SO; grade certificates
issued, 473; total value ofschool build
ings, $685. 800.
Year after year, the report saws.
SHOWS a gratifying Improvement in the
school system .of the State, ,"and in the
interest taken by parents and guar.
dians' This is commented on at length.
and parents and school committees
urged to continue their interest in the
attendance upon the schools.
Considerable has been done dnrino
the past two years, IN the erection and
Improvement of school buildings. but
still IN some sections the accommoda-
tions for school children is verv moor
Inc teachers, taken in the aggregate
nave greatly increased in efficiency.
In the cOlored schools substantial and
encouraging progress has been made.
Vhe schools now numbering SO outside
OF Wilmington. During the past wear
Uhe disbursements amounted to
SI,I6669, of which amount S4.655.63
came from the State appropriation and
S2,5II.O6 from the school tax fund. As
rule, the success of the schools has
oeen good, and well-educated, indus
trlous, earnest teachers have been en-
ployed who have made every effort to
improve the pupils and advance the
interest of the schools. The superin-
tendent recommends that some plan be
devised whereby better and more
suitable school accommodations can he
secured for the colored children.
One Of the great needs of the State
says the report, is normal or training
school, for the professional preparation
OF teachers. Delaware should have an
institution empowered to graduate
students whose diploma should be
equivalent to life certificate. A pro-
iesslonal course of study for such a
school is detailed and recommended.
with other suggestions as to its oper-
alton and management. It is further
that by utilizing either Del |
aware College or Newark Academy. no |
appropriation need be made for build |
lngs or for meeting the current expenses
of the school. The only expenditure |
advised is that of providing free tuition
Tor number of students. The actual |
cost of supporting sixty free scholar
ships at the State normal school, which
ought to yield thirty graduates a year.
would be only $2,4OO, or about one
cent and a-half per annum for each
inhabitant of the State. This is but a
5rihing sum compared with the benefits
the State would derive from the i'm
proved service rendered by trained
professional teachers.
The report, in conclusion, urges care
ful and judicious attention to the needs
Of the school system. An appendix is
added, showing many details of public
school work during the past two wears.